Is Netflix’s ‘The Diplomat’ Factual or Farcical?
A former U.S. ambassador, an Iran expert, a Libya expert, and a former U.K. Conservative Party advisor weigh in.
List of U.S. 2020 Election articles
![Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol before the attack in Washington.]()
Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol before the attack in Washington.
The Jan. 6 Insurrectionists Aren’t Who You Think They Are
The people who stormed the U.S. Capitol weren’t poor, unemployed red-staters. Many were middle-class professionals motivated by the “great replacement” conspiracy theory.
![U.S. President Joe Biden walks through Arlington National Cemetery.]()
U.S. President Joe Biden walks through Arlington National Cemetery.
The Military Revolt Against Joe Biden
An open letter by former officers calling the president a “Marxist” dictator is a greater threat to U.S. democracy than the ouster of Liz Cheney.
![U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to city officials and employees of Double Eagle Energy at the site of an active oil rig in Midland, Texas, on July 29, 2020.]()
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to city officials and employees of Double Eagle Energy at the site of an active oil rig in Midland, Texas, on July 29, 2020.
The Death of the Carbon Coalition
Existing models of U.S. politics are wrong. Here’s how the system really works.
![Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg]()
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Our Top Weekend Reads
A broken U.S. public sphere, QAnon’s resilience amid disappointment, and how to eavesdrop on policymaking conversations.
![Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington on Jan. 12.]()
Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington on Jan. 12.
No Amount of Swagger Can Dress Up Pompeo’s Legacy
The outgoing secretary of state prioritized his political ambitions over America’s interests.
![U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on March 19, 2019.]()
U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on March 19, 2019.
Bolsonaro Is Following Trump’s Anti-Democracy Playbook
Brazil’s “Tropical Trump” is laying the groundwork to discredit his country’s electoral process.
![A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump carries a Confederate flag through the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington on Jan 6.]()
A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump carries a Confederate flag through the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington on Jan 6.
The Enduring Damage of This Insurrection to U.S. Diplomacy
Adversaries are already leveraging Wednesday’s indelible images of chaos for propaganda purposes.
![U.S. President Donald Trump addresses his supporters at a rally near the White House in Washington before the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6.]()
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses his supporters at a rally near the White House in Washington before the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Invoke the 25th Amendment—Now
Trump’s actions on Wednesday have led to an unavoidable national reckoning.
![Pro-Trump rioters clash with police and security forces as they storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6.]()
Pro-Trump rioters clash with police and security forces as they storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6.
America, Welcome to the Ranks of Struggling Democracies
What needs to happen next if U.S. democracy is to survive.
![The U.S. Capitol is seen behind the Washington Monument the day after a pro-Trump mob broke into the building on Jan. 7.]()
The U.S. Capitol is seen behind the Washington Monument the day after a pro-Trump mob broke into the building on Jan. 7.
Why Ghana Does Disputed Elections Better Than the United States
Lessons from democracy-building efforts abroad for use at home.
![U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door broken by pro-Trump extremists during a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6.]()
U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door broken by pro-Trump extremists during a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6.
The Military Stayed Out of the Insurrection, but It Isn’t Over Yet
Trump failed because key Republicans backed down and the military stayed out—yet critical questions remain.
![National Security Advisor Tom Donilon speaks at a luncheon by the Economic Club of Washington in Washington, D.C. on Sep. 16, 2011.]()
National Security Advisor Tom Donilon speaks at a luncheon by the Economic Club of Washington in Washington, D.C. on Sep. 16, 2011.
What Georgia’s Senate Results Mean for Biden’s Foreign Policy
As Congress hangs in the balance, Obama’s national security advisor explains how a president can deal with a less than cooperative legislature.
![U.S. President Donald Trump steps out of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 5.]()
U.S. President Donald Trump steps out of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 5.
The Coming Republican Reckoning With Trump’s Legacy
Rebuilding Republican credibility in national security will require an honest look at Trumpism—and a return to our party’s foreign-policy principles.
![French President Emmanuel Macron reacts to a standing ovation after addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2018.]()
French President Emmanuel Macron reacts to a standing ovation after addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2018.
Europe May Cheer Biden’s Win—But It Threatens Macron’s Grand Project
France is going to have a harder time selling “strategic autonomy” without the foil of the Trump administration to drive it.
![Then-US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) gestures next to Then-US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield before their bilateral talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (not pictured) at the State House in Nairobi on August 22, 2016.]()
Then-US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) gestures next to Then-US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield before their bilateral talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (not pictured) at the State House in Nairobi on August 22, 2016.
In Break From Trump, Biden Opts for Experience, Expertise for Top National Security Jobs
The U.S. president-elect laid out most of his national security team even as more Republicans abandoned Trump and his legal battles over the election results.
![A giant painting of then-U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden in Ireland]()
A giant painting of then-U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden in Ireland
Biden’s Irish Roots Promise a New Kind of Special Relationship
But it won’t be a “great bonanza.”
![Christopher C. Krebs, director of the Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 14, 2019 in Washington, DC.]()
Christopher C. Krebs, director of the Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 14, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Trump Ousts Cybersecurity Chief Over Election Claims
The outgoing president continues to spread falsehoods about fraud, even as the recently fired Chris Krebs calls the elections ‘the most secure’ in history.
![U.S. President Donald Trump hugs the American flag during CPAC 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 2, 2019.]()
U.S. President Donald Trump hugs the American flag during CPAC 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 2, 2019.
Trump’s Defeat Was World Historic
Populist authoritarians don’t usually leave through the ballot box. The Democrats’ success offers lessons for others.
![U.S. President-elect Joe Biden after receiving a briefing from the COVID-19 transition advisory board in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 9.]()
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden after receiving a briefing from the COVID-19 transition advisory board in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 9.
The National Security Risks of Trump’s Temper Tantrum
Refusing to concede and start the transition creates mostly hindrances, not disasters. But on key issues, obstructing Biden puts America in danger.
![The American flag flies at the U.S. Capitol]()
The American flag flies at the U.S. Capitol
Democrats Urge Outgoing Trump to Be Flexible on Sanctions
Lawmakers are redoubling efforts to ensure all countries can get essential medical equipment during the pandemic despite ramped-up U.S. sanctions.
The Jan. 6 Insurrectionists Aren’t Who You Think They Are
The people who stormed the U.S. Capitol weren’t poor, unemployed red-staters. Many were middle-class professionals motivated by the “great replacement” conspiracy theory.
The Military Revolt Against Joe Biden
An open letter by former officers calling the president a “Marxist” dictator is a greater threat to U.S. democracy than the ouster of Liz Cheney.
The Death of the Carbon Coalition
Existing models of U.S. politics are wrong. Here’s how the system really works.
Our Top Weekend Reads
A broken U.S. public sphere, QAnon’s resilience amid disappointment, and how to eavesdrop on policymaking conversations.
No Amount of Swagger Can Dress Up Pompeo’s Legacy
The outgoing secretary of state prioritized his political ambitions over America’s interests.
Bolsonaro Is Following Trump’s Anti-Democracy Playbook
Brazil’s “Tropical Trump” is laying the groundwork to discredit his country’s electoral process.
The Enduring Damage of This Insurrection to U.S. Diplomacy
Adversaries are already leveraging Wednesday’s indelible images of chaos for propaganda purposes.
Invoke the 25th Amendment—Now
Trump’s actions on Wednesday have led to an unavoidable national reckoning.
America, Welcome to the Ranks of Struggling Democracies
What needs to happen next if U.S. democracy is to survive.
Why Ghana Does Disputed Elections Better Than the United States
Lessons from democracy-building efforts abroad for use at home.
The Military Stayed Out of the Insurrection, but It Isn’t Over Yet
Trump failed because key Republicans backed down and the military stayed out—yet critical questions remain.
What Georgia’s Senate Results Mean for Biden’s Foreign Policy
As Congress hangs in the balance, Obama’s national security advisor explains how a president can deal with a less than cooperative legislature.
The Coming Republican Reckoning With Trump’s Legacy
Rebuilding Republican credibility in national security will require an honest look at Trumpism—and a return to our party’s foreign-policy principles.
Europe May Cheer Biden’s Win—But It Threatens Macron’s Grand Project
France is going to have a harder time selling “strategic autonomy” without the foil of the Trump administration to drive it.
In Break From Trump, Biden Opts for Experience, Expertise for Top National Security Jobs
The U.S. president-elect laid out most of his national security team even as more Republicans abandoned Trump and his legal battles over the election results.
Biden’s Irish Roots Promise a New Kind of Special Relationship
But it won’t be a “great bonanza.”
Trump Ousts Cybersecurity Chief Over Election Claims
The outgoing president continues to spread falsehoods about fraud, even as the recently fired Chris Krebs calls the elections ‘the most secure’ in history.
Trump’s Defeat Was World Historic
Populist authoritarians don’t usually leave through the ballot box. The Democrats’ success offers lessons for others.
The National Security Risks of Trump’s Temper Tantrum
Refusing to concede and start the transition creates mostly hindrances, not disasters. But on key issues, obstructing Biden puts America in danger.
Democrats Urge Outgoing Trump to Be Flexible on Sanctions
Lawmakers are redoubling efforts to ensure all countries can get essential medical equipment during the pandemic despite ramped-up U.S. sanctions.
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